Newcastle Uni to hold a 24 hour tennis event in memory of a student who died in tragic accident

The Newcastle University Real Tennis Society is holding a 24 hour endurance event to aid two local charities.

Created by George Bishop, currently a third year at Newcastle University, the event is in support of the #JackTheLad foundation and the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter.

The event will be held at Jesmond Dene Real Tennis Club on Friday 8th December, when society members will undertake a difficult challenge, ChronicleLive reports.

During the event, the group will be playing doubles, with the rules stating there must be four players on the court at all times. Secretary and co-founder of the society, George, organised the event to coincide with its first anniversary.

The two charities the event is supporting are important to society in different ways. The first is the #JackTheLad foundation, created in memory of Jack Howe, a Newcastle University student who tragically died in an accident on holiday at just 19-years-old. This charity was founded to campaign for safer holidays abroad for the UK’s young people and due to Jack previously attending Newcastle University, it was important for the society to hold this event in his memory. The second charity is the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter.

When asked about the event, secretary and co-founder George explained why they chose to hold it and how much he is looking forward to it. He said: “I think that it is very important for us to represent students in this way, especially when something as tragic as what happened to Jack Howe has taken place.”

“We want to give back to that charity, as well as the dog and cat shelter in a city which, on a personal level, has become a second home for me throughout the time that I have been here. I am originally from Wiltshire but I honestly feel like Newcastle is a place where I feel so comfortable.”

Speaking on his excitement for challenge, he added: “There are eight of us taking part in the event overall, with the plan being that four of us will always be on court playing doubles throughout the 24 hour period. I am very excited, as is everyone else, it should be a good challenge but it is also demanding which I am looking forward to.

The link to the GoFundMe page can be found here.

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